Decolletage-shaping brassiere

ABSTRACT

This is attained in a brassiere for stabilizing and shaping female breasts and having cups adapted to hold the breasts and at least one strap securing the cups in place. The cups are horizontally spaced at most 10 cm from one another by a bridge piece. The bridge piece is a dimensionally stable molded that holds the cups at a constant spacing from one another.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a brassiere. More particularly this invention concerns a brassiere specifically intended for shaping a woman's decolletage and having cups spaced at most 10 cm from each other by a bridge piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A brassiere is a garment that is designed to support and shape a woman's breasts. Because of the shaping action it exerts on the breasts, the construction of a brassiere is also subject to changes in the contemporary ideal of beauty. The basic form of the brassiere has not changed since ancient times. An assembly of straps for stabilizing and lifting the female breast are known even from antiquity. However, the shape of the cup that holds each individual breast and forces the breast into a typical shape, even determining the height of the breast, has changed over time with changes in the ideal of beauty.

Some known brassieres are designed to make the breasts appear larger; such brassieres lift the breasts above the neckline of a correspondingly cut dress (for example, a dirndl), giving the breasts the appearance of greater volume. Brassieres of the type are so-called “push-up” brassieres or brassieres with integrated underwires. In addition to lifting the breast to create the appearance of greater breast volume, some known brassieres are padded; the brassieres are comfortable to wear due to their padding, but the padding also fills in the cups of the brassiere that are necessarily cut larger. The padding is usually at in the lower and/or outer part of each cup (relative to the cup center) and inside the cup (relative to the cup surface), in order to fill in the décolletage.

The multiplicity of desired breast shapes based on a particular ideal of beauty and the multiplicity of potential natural breast shapes result in an even greater multiplicity of relative breast deformations from the natural form to the desired breast form. As long as the wearer has firm and highly elastic connective tissue, the multiplicity of relative deformations is of no concern, since the inherent elasticity of the individual breast allows it to be deformed in any direction. If some regions of the breast are deformed less than other regions of the breast, the elastic connective tissue is able to offset this difference in deformation. Only when the difference in deformation between the natural and the desired shape can no longer be offset by the elasticity of the connective tissue, for example if the volume of the cup and the volume of the breast do not coincide, or if the cup rests at a substantially different location on the front of the body than the natural location of the breast, a change must be made to a different size, in which the cup size and/or the bust measurement (relative to the transverse sectional plane of the body) of the brassiere are adjusted.

If the connective tissue in the breast is not or is no longer elastic, for example following significant weight loss, after pregnancy or before a substantial increase in breast volume as a result of pregnancy followed by a rapid decrease in breast volume, which may be accompanied by connective tissue tears, following severe illness, after and/or during chemotherapy and with age-related decreases in connective-tissue elasticity, the breast is no longer able to compensate for extensive deformation. When, in addition to the connective tissue of the breast, the connective tissue of the flat part of the chest below the throat and on the chest itself slackens, breast shaping can produce an undesirable wrinkling of the skin. The desired effect of a deformation in accordance with the ideal of beauty is nullified from an aesthetic standpoint by potentially increased wrinkling.

Particularly when a push-up brassiere is worn, if the wearer has weak connective tissue and/or diminished elasticity below the throat and over the chest, the flat skin will react by wrinkling, forming substantially vertically extending sagittal wrinkles at the center of the chest that is divided approximately in half by the sagittal plane of the body. Moreover, wrinkles can form in the upper layer of the skin, fanning out over the entire décolletage area, particularly with the natural movement of the breast with changes in the position of the torso or with movement of the torso. Depending on the shape of the breast, transverse wrinkles may also alternatively form in the area of the cleavage that is tangential to the center of the body and is divided by the transverse plane of the body. The formation of wrinkles is undesirable, not only because the wrinkles give the appearance of aging skin, but also because the induced wrinkling can result in the development of actual wrinkles. Finally, skin that is forced into wrinkles can also become painful, can perspire more than the rest of the skin and can even become inflamed.

German published application DE 27 03 239 discloses a breast band that is placed around the back of the neck, with its two ends being crossed over in the region between the breasts and then tied together in the back. The crossed, flat textile band tightens the skin of the décolletage, thereby decreasing the formation of wrinkles. However, a band of this type cannot be worn with a backless gown, a low-neckline top, a low-neckline dress or a low-neckline pullover since the band would be unaesthetically visible.

German published application DE 27 11 541 discloses a garment comparable to the breast band mentioned in the introductory portion that, when worn as intended below the breasts by the wearer, has a textile strip similar to an underbust band of a brassiere. This textile strip forms an acute triangle between the breasts. This garment for tightening the décolletage also cannot be worn with a backless gown, a low-neckline top, a low-neckline dress or a low-neckline pullover since it would be unaesthetically visible. Moreover, this band would collide with a supplemental brassiere, making both is uncomfortable to wear.

A generic brassiere is known from US 2010/0242291 A1. In this case, a flexible bridge piece is provided between the cups, with the length of the piece being adjustable in order to adjust the spacing between the cups. However, this does nothing to counteract a potential wrinkling of the wearer's skin.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved decolletage-shaping brassiere.

Another object is the provision of such an improved decolletage-shaping brassiere that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular to devise a brassiere of the type indicated, with which any wrinkling of the wearer's skin in the décolletage area is counteracted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is attained in a brassiere for stabilizing and shaping female breasts and having cups adapted to hold the breasts and at least one strap securing the cups in place. The cups are horizontally spaced at most 10 cm from one another by a bridge piece. The bridge piece according to the invention is a dimensionally stable molded that holds the cups at a constant spacing from one another.

According to the invention, with a brassiere of conventional design that can be provided with an underbust band and can be designed with or without straps, and that has a closure element that wraps around the body, an appropriately dimensionally stable molded part is provided between the cups. This dimensionally stable molded part keeps the cups, which are spaced from one another, at a constant spacing from one another when the brassiere is put on by the user. The spacing between the cups can be from 2 cm to 10 cm, for example. A spacing of 3 cm to 6 cm is preferred. A spacing of 3 cm to 5 cm is particularly preferred.

The spacing between the cups is preferably defined such that, when the brassiere is worn as intended, the spacing is measured approximately over the breastbone of the wearer. The dimensionally stable molded part keeps the cups spaced from one another such that the formation of wrinkles in the skin, particularly in the form of sagittal wrinkles extending substantially vertically at the center of the chest and fanning out therefrom, is avoided, so that, even with diminished connective tissue elasticity, the formation of wrinkles in the skin is avoided, and a correspondingly positive look and feel for the wearer is achieved.

Preferably, the dimensionally stable molded part has or forms two dimensionally stable cup sections, connected to or formed at the end regions of the molded part facing the cups, with each cup section being integrated into a cup.

The dimensionally stable cup sections can be made of the same material as the dimensionally stable molded part. Preferably, however, these likewise dimensionally stable cup sections are made of a somewhat softer material, in the interest of improving wearing comfort.

The height of the cup sections in accordance with the invention corresponds at least approximately to the height of the cups in the end regions thereof that face one another, and that the width of the cup sections extends over one-fourth or at most one-third of the cup from the end region thereof that faces the other cup to the center region thereof that faces away from the cup.

This serves to ensure that the breasts of the person wearing the brassiere are held securely, with the desired spacing between the breasts being achieved by the corresponding positioning of the cups.

Also according to the invention the cups are connected to one another via an underbust band. In this case, the dimensionally stable molded part is integrated into the underbust band.

Furthermore according to the invention the brassiere has underwires that extend around the bottom side of the cups and along the lateral regions of the cups that face one another, and that the dimensionally stable molded part connects the underwires to one another.

In all embodiments, the dimensionally stable molded part consists of parts that can be adjusted relative to one another and can be fastened to one another in different positions of adjustment, so that the length of the molded part that determines the spacing between the cups is variable.

Preferably, the underwires extend along the lateral regions of the cups that face one another, up to the upper ends of the lateral regions. In this case, the unattached ends of the underwires end diverging from one another in the lateral regions of the cups.

Further according to the invention the dimensionally stable molded part is made of a rigid fabric structure, a dimensionally stable plastic, metal that is encased in fabric or a combination thereof.

Also in accordance with the invention the dimensionally stable molded part is a substantially flat, ribbon-like element that is rigid in the X direction along its longitudinal extension and in the Y direction along its vertical extension, and is flexible in the Z direction.

According to the invention the two cups, which are open toward the top, are spaced approximately 2 cm to 10 cm, preferably approximately 3 cm to 6 cm, particularly preferably approximately 3 cm to 5 cm from one another in the region of the breast band, with this spacing between the cups being defined at the closest point that is located approximately above the wearer's breastbone when the brassiere is worn as intended. In contrast to known brassieres, with the brassiere according to the invention the cups are spaced a greater spacing from one another than is customary in known brassieres. Although the cups of known brassieres are spaced slightly from one another in the bottom region over the breastbone at the center of the body since the cups or the underwires converge at this point, the spacing between the cups or the underwires in the region of the center of the body is usually quite small. Brassieres that are designed to fill in breast volume result in a décolletage in which the two breasts touch one another or at least nearly touch one another. When the natural breasts are forced toward one another in this way, in a person with correspondingly weak or weakened connective tissue a vertically extending sagittal wrinkle or group of sagittal wrinkles is produced in the cleavage area at the center of the body, or a transverse wrinkle or group of transverse wrinkles is produced in the region, extending substantially horizontally and following the horizontal curve along the tops of both breasts. Moreover, with the natural repositioning movement of the breasts, induced with movement of the torso or with changes in the position of the torso, fan-shaped wrinkles can form particularly in the upper layer of skin and can fan out over the entire décolletage. Unexpectedly, it has been found that the spacing between the cups, which according to the invention is small but not negligible, is sufficient to prevent the undesirable formation of wrinkles. This desired effect is further intensified by an underwire that extends across the horizontal plane at the center of the body, and from the center of the body above the breast, extends toward the outside. A breast and décolletage that are shaped in this manner are distinguishable externally in terms of shape only slightly from a décolletage of a breast that has highly elastic connective tissue. The forced spacing between the breasts causes the skin of the upper décolletage, below the throat, to lie flat on the chest, and no wrinkles are created. The slight tightening that the brassiere according to the invention exerts on the skin of the décolletage is experienced as wearing comfort. The slight spacing between the breasts is visible when this area of the décolletage is uncovered. The shaping of the breasts gives the décolletage a more youthful appearance, since the décolletage creates the impression of fresh, elastic skin. When the wearer wears a dress or a top that is not cut too low, the breast beneath it will appear shapely and the cleavage and/or décolletage will be free of wrinkles. Continuous (daily) wearing of the brassiere according to the invention, including, for example, under high-neckline tops, will prevent the formation of wrinkles in the décolletage as a result of squeezing, pressing and movement, so that in the summer, the wearer can show off a wrinkle-free décolletage at the beach or during formal ball season.

According to the invention, each of the cups has a curved underwire, with the spacing between the cups being defined at the point where, when the brassiere is worn as intended, the two wires are closest to one another, wherein with underwires of this type that do not extend between the cups, the spacing is defined at the point where the imaginary extensions of the underwires according to harmonic curvature are closest to one another. Some known brassieres have wires that support only part of the lower breast, and therefore, the two wires of the two cups of these known brassieres are spaced a substantial spacing from one another. However, the imaginary harmonic curve extension of the underwires of such brassieres is such that the two underwires would come within close proximity of one another, thereby positioning the breasts close to one another. According to the concept of the invention, however, the harmonic extensions of the two wires in the region between the breasts are spaced from one another as specified in the invention and mentioned in the introductory part, without sudden changes in curvature. The imagined extension of the wire according to harmonic curvature is a curvature that approximately follows the border of the natural breast, and extends without abrupt changes in curvature that are visible to the naked eye.

For brassieres that appear to increase the volume of the breast by lifting the breasts slightly, according to the invention, in contrast to a classic push-up brassiere, when the brassiere is worn as intended, the two underwires have a bottom region in which the two wires approach one another, and a top region in which the two wires extend in parallel toward one another or diverge from one another, and the angle that is formed relative to the median point of the respective underwire as the vertex around which the two underwires diverge is approximately 5° to 45°, preferably approximately 10° to 30°, particularly preferably approximately 15° to 25° from the horizontal plane. In the area between the breasts, the linear form of the cup, the shaping of which is supported particularly by the underwire, is particularly important for avoiding undesirable wrinkles in the skin. The wires that diverge in the upper region of the individual breasts tighten the skin of the décolletage just enough that the formation of sagittal wrinkles or fan-shaped wrinkles in the upper layer of skin, which are created especially with the natural movement of the breast as a result of changes in the position of the torso or with movement of the torso, are avoided over the entire décolletage area.

In one particular embodiment of the brassiere according to the invention, the two cups are connected to one another via a rigid molded part in the underbust band, and in the case of a brassiere with underwires, the molded part is connected to the underwires. A dimensionally stable molded part between the cups stabilizes the spacing between the breasts, and the dimensionally stable molded part allows the underbust band to be worn even relatively loosely, while still maintaining the spacing between the breasts. In a further embodiment of the brassiere according to the invention, in the interest of wearing comfort the molded part is connected to two cup sections that support the parts of the breasts that face the center of the body. Such a molded part is integrated into the textile region of the underbust band, and if an underwire is present, the molded part is connected to the underwires. The cup sections extend into the parts of the cups that face inward relative to the center of the body, with the cup sections shaping and supporting the breasts in this breast region that is highly susceptible to wrinkling.

To adjust the tightening of the skin in the décolletage area, in a further embodiment of the invention a French clasp is located between the cups, and can be fastened at more than one spacing between the cups, wherein when a dimensionally stable molded part is provided, the French clasp is part of the molded part. This French clasp can be provided alternatively or in addition to a rear clasp, with the object of the French clasp being not only to fasten the underbust band, but also to vary the spacing between the cups.

The concept according to the invention can be applied to a multiplicity of known forms of brassieres, such as backless brassieres, strapped or strapless bandeaux, non-wired or wired brassieres, cup-only brassieres, push-up brassieres designed specifically for support in order to visually enlarge smaller breasts or shape the décolletage, bikini brassieres, sports brassieres, arthritis brassieres, compression brassieres, nursing brassieres, shelf brassieres, bustiers, corsages, corselettes, corsets or torselettes.

For push-up brassieres that have a large underwire, in one embodiment of the invention, when the brassiere is worn as intended, the opening of the cups is directed upward approximately vertically. In contrast to the traditional opening for the wires in push-up brassieres, which in generic push-up brassieres are directed toward the center of the body, with the present shape of the brassiere, the opening is directed upward vertically. As a result, the breasts are not pressed toward the center of the body, which, in the case of weak connective tissue, will result in the creation of undesirable sagittal wrinkles. Moreover, the formation of wrinkles in the upper layers of skin, fanning out over the entire décolletage area, particularly with the natural movement of the breast with changes in the position of the torso or with movement of the torso, is thereby prevented.

To stabilize the spacing between the breasts and to give the underbust band a good adaptive shape without unnecessarily compressing the rib cage, in one embodiment of the invention the molded part, which is sewn into the underbust band and optionally into the cups, is stabilized mechanically between the cups, with the stabilization being made of a more rigid fabric than the remainder of the underbust band, a polymeric material or metal encased in fabric.

For stylish breast shaping, in one embodiment of the invention, when the brassiere is worn as intended, the cups have at least one shaping seam that extends upward toward the center of the body, along which seam the curvature of the cup surface changes abruptly. As a result, a soft edge that follows the shaping seam is produced on the breast surface that follows a breast dart in a tailored dress.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cups are embodied as seamless. This results in particular wearing comfort, especially for wearers with highly sensitive breasts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a prior-art full cup brassiere worn by a woman with elastic connective tissue;

FIG. 2 a shows the brassiere of FIG. 1 worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity, resulting in sagittal wrinkles and fan-shaped wrinkles;

FIG. 2 b shows the brassiere of FIG. 1, worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity, resulting in transverse wrinkles;

FIG. 3 a shows a prior-art strapless brassiere worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity, resulting in sagittal wrinkles and fan-shaped wrinkles;

FIG. 3 b shows the brassiere of FIG. 3 a worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity, resulting in transverse wrinkles;

FIG. 4 a shows the brassiere according to the invention with spaced cups and worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity, smoothing sagittal wrinkles;

FIG. 4 b shows the brassiere of FIG. 4 a with spaced cups and worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity, smoothing transverse wrinkles;

FIG. 5 a shows a strapless brassiere according to the invention with spaced cups and worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity, smoothing sagittal wrinkles;

FIG. 5 b shows the strapless brassiere according to the invention with spaced cups and worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity, smoothing transverse wrinkles;

FIG. 6 shows a prior-art push-up brassiere that pushes the breasts toward the center of the body;

FIG. 7 shows a wired brassiere with cups positioned close to one another, producing sagittal wrinkles and possibly fan-shaped wrinkles;

FIG. 8 shows a wired brassiere with cups positioned close to one another, producing transverse wrinkles;

FIG. 9 shows the brassiere according to the invention with spaced cups and diverging wires;

FIG. 10 shows the brassiere according to the invention with a French clasp for adjusting the spacing between the cups;

FIG. 11.1 shows the brassiere according to the invention with a molded part in the underbust band and forming part of the cups, and with a French clasp;

FIG. 11.2 shows the molded part of FIG. 11.1;

FIG. 12.1 shows the brassiere according to the invention with the molded part only in the underbust band and as part of the cups;

FIG. 12.2 shows the molded part of FIG. 12.1;

FIG. 13.1 shows the brassiere according to the invention with the molded part only in the underbust band, and with a French clasp;

FIG. 13.2 shows the molded part of FIG. 13.1;

FIG. 14.1 shows the brassiere according to the invention with the molded part only in the underbust band;

FIG. 14.2 shows the molded part of FIG. 14.1;

FIG. 15 shows a brassiere according to the invention in a simple embodiment with a simple molded part sewn between the cups; and

FIG. 16 shows a brassiere according to the invention in a simple embodiment with a molded part sewn between the cups, wherein the molded part has two cup sections.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a generic full-cup prior-art brassiere 10 worn by a woman with elastic connective tissue. The breasts 11 and 12 have a typical décolletage shape at the center cleavage 13, which is perceived as aesthetically pleasing.

FIG. 2 a shows the full-cup prior-art brassiere 10 of FIG. 1 worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity. Rather than a décolletage shape that is desirably wrinkle-free, the generic prior-art brassiere 10 produces vertically extending sagittal wrinkles 24 and fan-shaped wrinkles 24 a in the area between the breasts.

FIG. 2 b shows the full-cup prior-art brassiere 10 of FIG. 1 worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity. Rather than a décolletage that is desirably wrinkle-free, the generic prior-art brassiere in this example produces transverse wrinkles 25 extending approximately horizontally in the center cleavage area.

FIG. 3 a shows an optionally strapless wired prior-art brassiere 30 worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity. Rather than a décolletage that is desirably wrinkle-free, the generic wired brassiere 30 from the prior art produces sagittal wrinkles 34 extending approximately vertically and fan-shaped wrinkles 24 a in the area between the breasts.

FIG. 3 b shows an optionally strapless wired prior-art brassiere 30 worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity. Rather than a décolletage that is desirably wrinkle-free, the generic wired brassiere 30 from the prior art produces transverse wrinkles 35 extending approximately horizontally in the center cleavage area.

FIG. 4 a shows a brassiere 40 according to the invention whose cups 41 and 42 are spaced approximately 2 cm to 10 cm, preferably approximately 3 cm to 6 cm, particularly preferably approximately 3 cm to 5 cm from one another in the area between the breasts by a relatively stiff and dimensionally stable molded part 46, with the brassiere being worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity. The wearer's décolletage 43 is tightened slightly by the spacing between the cups 41 and 42, thereby preventing the formation of the sagittal wrinkles 44 that would otherwise form.

The vertically extending sagittal wrinkles 44 that will form without the cup arrangement according to the invention are indicated by dashed lines.

FIG. 4 b shows a brassiere 40 according to the invention, whose cups 41 and 42 are spaced approximately 2 cm to 10 cm, preferably approximately 3 cm to 6 cm, particularly preferably approximately 3 cm to 5 cm from one another in the region between the breasts by a dimensionally stable molded part 46, with the brassiere being worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity. The wearer's décolletage 43 is tightened slightly by the constant spacing between the cups 41 and 42, thereby preventing the transverse wrinkles 45 that will otherwise form. The horizontally extending transverse wrinkles 45 that will form without the cup arrangement according to the invention are indicated by dashed lines.

FIG. 5 a shows an optionally strapless wired brassiere 50 according to the invention, whose cups 51 and 52 are spaced approximately 2 cm to 10 cm, preferably approximately 3 cm to 6 cm, particularly preferably approximately 3 cm to 5 cm from one another in the region between the breasts by a dimensionally stable molded part 56, with the brassiere being worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity. The wearer's décolletage is tightened slightly by the forced spacing between the cups 51 and 52, and the vertically extending sagittal wrinkles 54 that would form only without the cup arrangement according to the invention are indicated by dashed lines.

FIG. 5 b shows an optionally strapless wired brassiere 50 according to the invention, whose cups 51 and 52 are spaced approximately 2 cm to 10 cm, preferably approximately 3 cm to 6 cm, particularly preferably approximately 3 cm to 5 cm from one another in the region between the breasts by a dimensionally stable molded part 56, with the brassiere being worn by a woman with connective tissue with diminished elasticity. The wearer's décolletage 53 is tightened slightly by the spacing between the is cups 51 and 52, and the horizontally extending transverse wrinkles 55 that would form only without the cup arrangement according to the invention are indicated by dashed lines.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the way in which a generic prior-art push-up brassiere 60 pushes a woman's breasts toward the center. This results in vertically extending sagittal wrinkles and fan-shaped wrinkles in the décolletage area at the vertical center of the body. The push-up brassiere has cups 61′ and 62′ with two openings 61 and 62 that point toward the center of the body at the top, and into which the breasts of the wearer are pushed.

FIG. 7 shows a similar effect that is exerted by a generic prior-art wired brassiere 70 on a wearer's breasts. The cups 71 and 72, which are positioned close to one another, force the skin of the décolletage to vertical wrinkle formation in the form of sagittal wrinkles and fan-shaped wrinkles.

FIG. 8 shows a similar effect that is exerted by a generic prior-art wired brassiere 70 on a wearer's breasts. The cups 71 and 72, which are positioned close to one another, force the skin of the décolletage to form horizontal wrinkles in the form of transverse wrinkles.

FIG. 9 shows a strapless wired brassiere 90 according to the invention and in which the cups 91 and 92 are spaced approximately 2 cm to 10 cm, preferably approximately 3 cm to 6 cm, particularly preferably approximately 3 cm to 5 cm from one another by a relatively stiff and dimensionally stable molded part 98. This spacing tightens the skin of the décolletage, so that vertical sagittal wrinkle formation and fan-shaped wrinkle formation as a result of movement are avoided. In contrast to the customary opening for the underwires in generic wired brassieres, according to the concept of the invention the underwires 93 and 94 of the respective cups 91 and 92 each have an upper region in which the two underwires 93 and 94 diverge between the cups 91, 92, with the angle α that is formed relative to the median point of the respective underwire 93, 94, as the vertex 95 around which the two underwires 93 and 94 diverge, measuring approximately 5° to 45°, preferably approximately 10° to 30°, particularly preferably approximately 15° to 25° from the horizontal plane 97. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the upper areas of the two underwires 93 and 94 extend parallel to one another relative to the above-mentioned horizontal plane. To avoid excess strain in the underbust band 96, the spacing between the breasts is stabilized mechanically by a dimensionally stable molded part 98 between the cups 91 and 92 that is sewn into the underbust band 96 and optionally into the cups 91 and 92. The molded part 98 is made of a more rigid fabric than the remainder of the underbust band 96, a polymeric material or metal encased in fabric.

Finally, FIG. 10 shows a wired brassiere 100 that is comparable to the wired brassiere 90, but that also has a French clasp 105 in the region of the dimensionally stable molded part 104 between the cups 101, 102, on the front of the body between the breasts. This French clasp 105 allows the spacing “d” between the cups 101 and 102 to be variably adjusted by lengthening or shortening the molded part 104. This helps to vary the optimal relief of strain on the skin of the décolletage once the fit of the brassiere 100 has been selected. When the brassiere is worn as intended, the cups 101, 102 can have at least one shaping seam 108, 109 that extends upward toward the center of the body, along which seam the curvature of the cup is surface changes abruptly.

FIG. 11.1 shows a view of a brassiere 200 according to the invention with a molded part 201 sewn in, the piece being sewn between the cups 203, 204 and the underbust band 202 and into the cups 203 and 204, and having a French clasp 205, with which the spacing between the cups 203 and 204 can be varied independently of the tension in the underbust band 202. The molded part 201 is shown separately in FIG. 11.2, and in this form is constructed in two parts with the French clasp 205. The molded part 201 also has two cup sections 201.1 and 201.2 made of the same rigid material, plastic, a plastic mesh or a wire mesh, with the shell shape of the piece being adapted to the desired shape of the breasts in the cups.

FIG. 12.1 shows a brassiere 300 according to the invention that has a dimensionally stable molded part 301 without a French clasp. The molded part 301 in this case is sewn into the underbust band 302 and into the cups 303 and 304. FIG. 12.2 shows a separate view of the molded part 301 with the dimensionally stable cup sections 301.1, 301.2.

FIG. 13.1 shows a brassiere 400 according to the invention that has a dimensionally stable molded part 401 only between two underwires 406 below the cups 403 and 404. The molded part 401 holds the underwires 406 from one another at a constant spacing that can be adjusted by the French clasp 405 as part of the molded part 401. In FIG. 13.2, the molded part 401 is shown separately, with the underwires 406 indicated by dashed lines.

Finally, FIG. 14.1 shows a simple embodiment of the brassiere 500 according to the invention that has a dimensionally stable molded part 501 only in the underbust band 502 between the cups 503 and 504. The molded part 501 is shown separately in FIG. 14.2, with the meshing or the connection illustrated by the underwires 506 indicated by dashed lines.

FIG. 15 shows an optionally strapless brassiere 500 of FIG. 14.1, worn as intended. As a result of the spacing between the cups 503 and 504, which is produced by the molded part 501, the breasts form a pleasing décolletage, without the formation of sagittal wrinkles, fan-shaped wrinkles or transverse wrinkles.

FIG. 16 shows an optionally strapless brassiere 300 of FIG. 12.1, worn as intended. As a result of the spacing between the cups 303 and 304, which is produced by the molded part 301, the breasts are positioned without the formation of sagittal wrinkles, fan-shaped wrinkles or transverse wrinkles on the décolletage. In this case, the breasts are particularly supported in the area of the breastbone by the cup sections 301.1 and 301.2 of the molded part 301, resulting in a wrinkle-free décolletage.

Next to FIG. 14.2, the extension of the substantially flat, band-like molded part is indicated by arrows. “X” indicates the longitudinal extension, “Y” indicates the vertical extension and “Z” indicates the transverse extension (with the axis extending through the plane of the drawing from back to front) in which the molded part is flexible.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment example but is widely variable within the scope of the disclosure.

All features disclosed in the text of the description and in the drawings are regarded as essential to the invention. 

I claim:
 1. In a brassiere for stabilizing and shaping female breasts and having cups adapted to hold the breasts and at least one strap securing the cups in place, the cups being horizontally spaced at most 10 cm from one another by a bridge piece, wherein the bridge piece is a dimensionally stable molded that holds the cups at a constant spacing from one another.
 2. The brassiere defined in claim 1, wherein the dimensionally stable molded part has or forms two.
 3. The brassiere defined in claim dimensionally stable cup sections that are connected to or formed on ends of the molded part that face the cups, each of the cup sections being integrated into a respective one of the cups.
 4. The brassiere defined in claim 2, wherein a height of the cup sections corresponds at least approximately to a height of the cups in inner he end regions juxtaposed with each other, and a width of the cup sections extends between one-fourth and at most one-third of the respective cup from the respective end thereof that faces the other cup to a center thereof that faces away from the other cup.
 5. The brassiere defined in claim 1, wherein the cups are connected to one another via an underbust band.
 6. The brassiere defined in claim 4, wherein the dimensionally stable molded part is integrated into the underbust band.
 7. The brassiere defined in claim 1, further comprising: underwires that extend around bottom sides of the cups and along lateral inner regions of the cups juxtaposed with each other, the dimensionally stable molded part connecting the underwires to one another.
 8. The brassiere defined in claim 1, wherein the dimensionally stable molded part is formed by parts that can be adjusted relative to one another and can be fastened to one another in different positions of adjustment so that the length of the molded part that determines the spacing between the cups is variable.
 9. The brassiere defined in claim 6, further comprising: underwires that extend along lateral regions of the cups juxtaposed with each other and extend up to upper ends of the lateral regions.
 10. The brassiere defined in claim 8, wherein unattached ends of the underwires end diverge from one another in the lateral regions of the cups.
 11. The brassiere defined in claim 1, wherein the dimensionally stable molded part is made of a rigid fabric structure, a dimensionally stable plastic, a metal encased in fabric, or a combination thereof.
 12. The brassiere defined in claim 1, wherein the dimensionally stable molded part is a substantially flat, strip-like element that is rigid in a X direction along its longitudinal extension and in a Y direction along its vertical extension, and is flexible in a Z direction. 